Sarawak DCM sound the warnings

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam warned that Sarawak, with 30 MPs in Parliament are observing the current political upheavals in the peninsular and Sabah and is gravely concerned.

“All this politicking is leading us nowhere. This is not reaping any benefit for the rakyat.

“Are all these going to help bring down the price of fuel and food? Obviously, all is not well, even within the Barisan. Barisan needs to change. It must urgently revitalise itself.

“If we don’t change, the people will change us. Barisan needs to change or else it will be changed,” Chan told reporters here yesterday.

Dr Chan noted that the people of Sarawak were worried that the rights of certain section of the population were being questioned.

He said the recent incident in which an Umno leader referred the Chinese as migrants who do not deserve rights was very regrettable.

“Our rights as Malaysians have been guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We have the right to defend these rights. This sort of thing (the questioning of citizens’ rights) should not be happening in our country anymore.

“Look at the United States. Right now, an African American (Barack Obama) is on the verge of becoming president,” he said.

Source: The Star

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said the Chinese gained citizenship by sacrificing their lives for the country.

Some 300,000 Chinese died defending the country during the Japanese Occupation in the 1940s, he said.

“That was about 20% of the population then. They had joined the Anti-Japanese Army to fight the invasion when the British left us helpless.

“And this was what made the British give us citizenship. It wasn’t gained without any sacrifice or contribution on our part.

“Our citizenship had been exchanged with our courage, blood, sweat and tears for the country,” he said after opening the Perak Wanita MCA convention here yesterday.

Ong was responding to remarks made by Bukit Bendara Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail on the Chinese during the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Calling Ahmad irresponsible and naïve for making the remarks, Ong said the issue should be put to a rest for the sake of racial harmony and unity among the people.

“We are all Malaysians. We need to stand united instead of being suspicious of one another,” he said.

On Ahmad’s demand that Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Chinese community leaders apologise to him, Ong said:

“It is not about who should apologise or who should withdraw from Barisan Nasional but about respecting each other’s rights.”

Selangor Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said Ahmad’s remark damaged racial relationships and the MCA would have to review its ties in Barisan.

Outgoing Perak Youth chief Datuk Tan Chin Meng proposed that the MCA leave Barisan if Ahmad refused to apologise for his statements.

“The younger generation of Malaysians are born here. What Ahmad said was degrading to the younger generation,” he added.

Source: The Star

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Non-Malays in this country are Umno’s partners whose rights and interests will be safeguarded.

He said Umno has never regarded the Chinese in this country as “pendatang” (immigrants), and as the main pillar in Barisan Nasional, Umno’s policy is clear that the party accepts non-Malays as partners in nation-building .

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said racial and religious polarisation is getting worse and this is very unhealthy.

"Everyone should stop before we get divided even more,” he said.

Source: The Star

Meanwhile, Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail has claimed that his decision not to apologise for his racially inflammatory remarks has received “tremendous support” from Malay-Muslim groups.

Ahmad said those who supported him consist of professionals, top academicians, politicians, civil movements, relatives and friends.

"I am surprised with the unexpected overwhelming support I had received from Malay-Muslims across the country.

“It is going to be a major issue now,” cautioned Ahmad.

Source: Malaysiakini

Ahmad thinks he wants this issue to be a major issue.

I don't think the people feared him and his coterie. The people have had enough of the bullying, the blame game and then the interposing of the weaker party by making them the culprit. At the back of all these rhetorical conduct he and his coterie were the strategic partners with some Chinese businessmen in pillaging the nation's coffers via the doctrines of NEP and Malay privileges. The Malays in Umno cannot live without the Chinese businessmen - one party gets the projects in the name of Malay privilege, the other party pays commissions and upfront monies to buy the project - it was win-win; for them! The nation was pilfered and pillaged; who cares? Only the ordinary Malays suffers; yet, they are coyed into mystic thoughts. 50 years passed, they lament; another 50 years will pass too; and they would remain lamenting.